Andrew E. Rice Award

Aphlyne is the founder of "Mental Wellness with a Smile"(a community-based organization that promotes mental health and well-being among marginalized communities and people with disabilities) and a committed development practitioner with a focus on sustainable development for marginalized communities. A graduate of the GLOCAL masters' program of International Development from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, with a background in Medical Psychology, she emphasizes the intersection of mental health, climate change, and development.

​Aphlyne has over seven years of experience in project planning, policy development, and offering Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, working in the clinical areas,at the Ministry of Health in Kenya and in humanitarian settings like Bidibidi refugee Settlement, Uganda. She adopts an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach, ensuring sustainability by working with and not for, communities—harnessing their strengths to drive inclusive development. Passionate about enhancing the inclusion of refugees, women, youth, and people with disabilities, Aphlyne's ultimate ambition is to demonstrate the importance of mental wellness in societal development and how effective leadership and policies can achieve this vision.

Honorable Mention

Luis V. Villaherrera 

Luis V. Villaherrera is an expert on democracy, AI, elections, and international development, and the first Obama Scholar from Mex-And Central America. A finalist for the 2024 Kofi Annan Democracy Prize, his insights have been published in Global Americans and Americas Quarterly, among others. He has been invited to share his work on Pod Save the World and Global Minnesota and has been featured in The New York Times and quoted on CNN.

In 2017, Luis co-founded TRACODA (Transparency, Social Control, and Open Data), creating innovative technological tools to combat corruption and promote democracy. One of his key projects, an open platform app to track government data and expose corruption, garnered over 500,000 visits before it was banned by the Salvadoran government. He also founded the Center for Democratic Strengthening in eastern El Salvador, focused on enhancing civic participation and accountability.
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Luis has led boot camps on democracy, civic engagement, and disinformation, reaching more than 10,000 young people. His initiatives continue to support journalists, think tanks, and researchers in improving government transparency on an international scale. Luis has been a panelist in Brussels, Athens, and other European and international forums, bringing attention to his work in fostering alliances between Latin America and Europe.

Honorable Mention 

Yuliia Bihun

Yuliia Bihun serves as an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Coordinator for Tetra Tech, Humanitarian Mine Action Ukraine. She is also the founder of the "Your Love" charity foundation and the social enterprise OHRA HOME, which provides training and employment opportunities for mothers of children with disabilities and women with disabilities. Through OHRA HOME, Yuliia helps women gain financial independence and strengthen their roles in society. Included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list and TOP 100 Womens of Ukraine.
 
As an innovative leader, she is passionate about advancing explosive ordnance risk education and championing social causes. Her expertise lies in coordinating large-scale projects, fundraising, and driving impactful initiatives that support vulnerable communities. Yuliia is deeply committed to creating lasting change and empowering those in need.